Currently, the Griz are still not a playoff caliber team with the very limited moves they made this Summer. In order to get into that territory Heisley will have to make a bold move between now and October. I don't see it. I think he blew his load with Gay (sorry for the terminology) and won't make any other moves until after next season.
Getting Paul would definitely put them into a playoff contender but I don't think Paul would ever envision making a lateral move. Maybe Heisley is thinking of trading Henry now. Seems like he is intentionally trying to piss him and his agent off for some unknown reason.

Appears to me that Grizz mgmt. drafted Henry to eventually replace Mayo as they don't seem very willing to let Mayo win the PG role from Conley who is Hollins' favorite
despite the fact he is the team's weakest link. Thabeet seems to excel against YMCA talent. It may take him another two years to catch up to being a quality backup center which is incredible that a team would draft a player for the second overall pickwhose talent level tops off as a backup. The Vasquez pick seems to be another example of picking for need instead of best available. Sure wish they had kept D. Jones instead.

Actually, MemX I think that is what the Griz Mgmt are thinking. I really like Mayo but now that they drafted xavier I think OJ will be the odd man out. Hollins likes Conley too much to get OJ much at a chance at PG and Zbo has that drug thing hanging over him like a dark cloud. I think there was a lot of truth in the Mayo for Ellis rumor last year. Also, Heisley is really transparent in what bball decisions he makes. So I would expect if OJ doesn't have a great year he will be the one to be let go at the end of next year even if he plays much better than Conley.

I have to agree with Chris on this. Seems like Heisley had his mind made up months ago that he was going to keep Gay no matter how expensive it was and he never really considered any other option. Which is weird since last year his mind was ambivalent about keeping him. Gay did not have such a great year to justify going from
60 to 82 million unless it became more of a game to Heisley to outbid the other owners. Like Chris said, it may have been much more prudent to make a sign and trade, even if it wasn't equal value, and retain Brewer and the 25th pick. Rudy may be more athletic than any other Griz player but it doesn't translate into more wins for the team when he only shows up part of the game to really play hard. Only way he can justify this contract is if he starts playing like Durant and clearly, even though he has two more years of experience, is no where near as valuable as Durant.

Great analysis, Chris. I wish the Grizz management consulted with you before they make any deals. I agree with your list. Of all the sign and trades you have listed
I think the most plausible is with the Heat for Beasely and Chalmers unless the Raptors do a sign and trade first with Bosh for Beasely. MN offers some interesting options if they really are serious. Like you, I just can not see offering Rudy more than 12 mill a year. Mayo and Gasol should be the main pieces.